A spash of color in a grey city.

Athens is a difficult city. A place that we, Athenians, love to hate. A messy, dirty, confusing mix of everyone’s taste, views, culture and ideas. All that, combined with heavily uncontrolled urban growth and layers of sudden historical changes, have created this tightly formed knot of interesting interactions and liveliness in an environment that sure scares you at first, but can captivate you if you observe it in the right context.

“Minion” shopping center was always an emblematic building for older generations. Especially during holiday seasons, such as now, it was the place to go for presents and of course all kids’ joy. All that until it got burned and shut down forever. Since then, the only thing left of times long past, is an deteriorating building structure, as an ugly reminder of what once was. Until now.

The new owners of the building decided to give it (and the surrounding area) a big color splash. Selecting famous Greek artist Yannis Kottis, they “dressed” the whole building with one of his paintings. His characteristic animal figures and nature themed art prevails and gives a new life to the otherwise dull and gray Patision street. A happy, colorful and smart idea that everyone who passes by, loves to take some moments from their hectic life, stop and observe.

Photos by Dioni Kalogeropoulou for elculture.gr. Original article link here.